Delivery mechanism for printing machine folders



. Jan. 12, 1937. v N. DE MANNA 2,067,565

DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINE FOLDERS Filed D60. 27, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 12, 1937'. N, D MAN 2,067,565

DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINE FOLDERS Filed Dec. 2'7, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 b mvzw'ro Jan. 12, 1937. N D MANNA 2,067,565

DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINE FOLDERS Filed Dec. 2'7, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORJ N. DE MANNA Jan. 12, 1937.

DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINE FOLDERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 27, 1933 4 qmvcu'roa.

Patented Jan. 12, 1937 V c DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINE FOLDERS Nicholas De Manna, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to R. Hoe & 00., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 27, 1933, Serial No. 704,165

15 Claims. (01. 271-64) This invention relates to delivery mechanisms companying drawings and the novel features to be employed in printing machine folders and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

particularly folders of the type employed in roto- The invention has been illustrated in its pregravure presses, and which are adapted for foldferred embodiments in the accompanying drawing multiple products and delivering each product in s, wherein:-- 5

separately. Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a Heretofore printing machines have employed printing machine folder, showing the invention folders capable of delivering separate products applied thereto, parts appearing in section;

folded by a common folding mechanism in differ- Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View taken apout directions away from the folder. Usually proximately on the line 2 2 of Figure 3; 10

such folders are constructed and arranged to fold Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the foldmultiple products and each alternate product is er, depicting the improved delivery fan and its delivered in different directions away from the cooperating driving mechanism, the view being folder. taken in the direction of the arrow 3 of Figure 1;

An object of this invention is to provide a de- Figure 4 is a fragmental plan View, showing the 1b livery' mechanism for use in printing machine cooperative relationship between the folding rollfolders capable of separating multiple products ers, improved delivery fan, and switching means, folded by a common folding mechanism, and then the view looking in the direction of arrow 4, Figdelivering alternate products in the same direcure 1; and

tion away from the folder. Figure 5 is a diagrammatic elevation depicting 20 Another object of this invention is to provide a double folder arrangement. a folder delivery mechanism constructed and ar- Referring to the drawings in which correspondranged to separate the products folded by a coming parts are indicated by similar reference charmon folder, and mechanically gripping certain acters, there is shown for each unit of a double of these products to insure positive delivery of all folder a conventional folding cylinder 6, and a 25 the products. cooperating cutting cylinder '1, employed in the A further object of this invention is to provide usual printing machine folder construction, and a folder delivery mechanism including a rotary the folding cylinder 6 is provided with the usual delivery fan and a separate delivery fan provided web or sheet taking pins 8, and conventional foldwith positive sheet-taking means. ing blades 9. Inasmuch as the function and op- 30 A more specific object of the invention is to eration of these components are thoroughly unprovide a folder delivery mechanism having sepaderstood by those skilled in the art, it is thought rate delivery fans, one of which being constructed that a detailed disclosure thereof is not here necand positioned to operably receive folded prodessary. Opposed folding rollers H of usual conucts from the folding rollers through a gravity struction are provided and are positioned adja- 35 path, and the products for the other fan diverted cent to and below the folding cylinders 6, to perfrom a normal gravitational path of travel by a mit the folding blades 9 to tuck the sheets or webs positively actuated means, and the products then therebetween to cause the product to be folded off propelled during the initial phase of their travel the folding cylinder in the usual manner. by the folding rollers and then gripped by mecha- A rotary delivery fan 14, of usual construction, 40 nism operably supported by the second fan and i positioned below h folding r ll r T positively conveyed around the fan to the final fan has Product receiving poc ets l5 efi e 0n conveying means. its periphery by fan blades I6, and these pockets It is also an aim and object of this invention are arranged for tangential disposition relative toprovide in a printing machine folder a de-' to the foldng rollers g i 3 9 mechanismofimprvef iainiri;zrrrsai friars monflwhereby. devlce W111. be slmp durable vided with eight pockets I5 for the reception of and mexpenslYe m m as l as the products from the folder, and a conveyor venient, practical and efficient and serviceable in member 20 is provided to cooperate with the 50 its livery fan to receive and convey products there- With these and other objects not specifically f m referred to in view, the invention consists in cerhi conveyor 20 may conform tothe conventain novel parts, arrangements and combinations, ti l structure, and is driven by a pulley or which will be described in connection with the acsprocket 2| secured to a shaft 22 which, in turn, 55

is driven by a sprocket 23 to which power is imparted through a chain 24, driven from a sprocket 25, carried by shaft 26, journaled in machine frame l8; The shaft 26 is driven by a sprocket 21, to which power is imparted by a chain 28, driven by a sprocket 29, carried by the delivery fan operating and supporting shaft H.

A second delivery fan 3| is provided, and this fan is smaller than the fan l4 and is positioned to one side of the folding rollers II. It includes a composite cylinder or body member 33 having separate series of product receiving pockets 34 formed on the periphery thereof, and the outer portion of these pockets are defined by separate series of fan blades 35, which are secured to the body member 33. In the structure illustrated there are five series of fan blades 35 positioned axially of the cylinder or body member 33, and there are preferably four blades to each series, these blades being spaced equidistant around the cylinder, thus defining equidistant product receiving pockets 34.

A conveyor 31 is provided to cooperate with the small delivery fan 3|, and this conveyor is driven by a pulley or sprocket 38, carried by a shaft 39, driven by sprocket 40, and the sprocket 40 is driven from the operating and supporting shaft 4! of the delivery fan 3| through the instrumentality of a sprocket 42 and chain 43. The usual stop or abutment 45 is provided for the small delivery fan, and a similar stop 46 is provided for the large fan l4, both stops functioning to interrupt the movement of the product around the periphery of the delivery fans and to cause the products to be deposited onto the delivery conveyors 20 and 31 in the usual manner.

As known to those skilled in the art, such mechanisms are usually provided with kickers or counters, and in this device, the large delivery fan l4 isprovided with a cooperating counter member which includes an arm 48, having an enlarged head 49, and the arm 48 is pivotally supported by a shaft 5|], journalled in the frame l8 of the machine, and a crank arm 5| is secured to and extends from the shaft 50, and has a terminal roller 52 journalled thereto, and this roller is operably engaged by a cam projection 54 carried on the rotary cam 55, which is operably supported by a shaft 56, journalled in the frame l8 and driven by any suitable instrumentality.

A kickeror counting device is also provided for the small delivery fan 3|, and it includes an arm 58 having an enlarged head or product interrupter 59, and the arm 58 is secured to and supported by a shaft 60, journalled in the machine frame. A crank arm 6| is secured to and extends from the shaft 69, and its outer terminal is pivotally secured to a rod 62 which has its opposed terminal pivotally secured to bell crank 63, fulcrummed at 64 to the machine frame IS. The rod 62 is normally urged in a direction away from the cam 55 by a helical spring 65 carried by the rod, and its opposed terminal engaging a bracket 61 supported by the machine frame l8, and through which the rod extends. The bell crank 63 is provided with a terminal roller 69 which is positioned in the path of travel of the cam projection 54, and when this projection engages the roller 69 it moves the bell crank 63, rod 62, crank 6| and kicker arm 58 and head 59 so that this head interrupts the path of the product around the fan 3 thereby positioning the engaged prodnot on the delivery fan at an angle to the other products. The cam projection 54 also engages the roller 52 which is stressed towards the cam by any suitable means, not shown, and rocks the arm 48 about its pivot 50, thereby disposing its enlarged head 49 in the path of travel of the products traveling around the large fan l4 and there by interrupting the engaged product. As is well understood by those skilled in the art, these kicker members are constructed and arranged to operate only after a predetermined number of papers have been discharged on the conveyor belt and the interrupted sheet indicates that such predetermined number have been deposited.

Normally the product or sheet after being folded from the folding cylinder 6 by the folding rollers l are propelled by these rollers and gravity into the pockets |5 of the delivery fan M, and then deposited on the conveyor belt 26. In order that alternate products may be diverted from their normal path of travel and directed towards the smaller delivery fan 3|, an improved switching or guiding member is provided which includes a shaft 1|, journalled in machine frame l8 for oscillatory movement, and this shaft has a plurality of spaced guide members 12 secured thereto, and the outer terminal 13 of each guide member is curved upwardly and terminates and is received within grooves l2 formed in the folding rollers One terminal of the shaft 1| is provided with a bell crank 15, having a relatively long arm 16 to the terminal of which a roller 11 is rotatively secured. A relatively short arm 18 extends from the bell crank 15, and a rod 19 is pivotally secured to its outer terminal, as indicated at 80. The bell crank 15 is normally stressed so that its long arm 16 is urged towards the small fan 3| by means of a helical spring 8| which surrounds the'rod 19, and one terminal of this spring abuts a collar 82 carried by the rod, and its opposed terminal engages a lug 83 extending from the frame i8 and through which the rod 19 is slidably mounted.

A cam 85 is secured to the flange 86 of a collar 81 by means of bolts or other suitable securing means 88, which extend through the cam and through elongated slots 89 provided in the flange 86 to permit the cam to be adjusted relative to the flange. The collar 81 is secured to the shaft 4| against relative rotary motion by a suitable key 9 and the collar is clamped against relative longitudinal motion between a shoulder 92 formed on the shaft 4|, and an enlarged Washer or retainer 93 which is secured to the shaft 4|, by means of a screw or other securing device 94. The cam 85 is provided with four equally spaced cam projections 95, and four intervening equally spaced cam recesses 96. Inasmuch as the roller 11 is normally stressed towards cam 85 by the tension spring 8| the roller 11 drops into a cam recess 96 and causes the curved terminals 13 of the guide members 12 to move toward the right, as viewed in Figure 1, and clear the path of travel for the products to pass from the folding rollers H to the fan l4, and when the roller 11 engages the cam projections 95, the guide terminal 13 is moved back to the position depicted in Figure 1, and guides the products from their normal path of travel along the upper face of the guide members 12 into the pockets 34 of the small fan 3|. Inasmuch as this fan is positioned laterally relatively to the folding-off rollers I, there is a tendency for the products to slow down as they pass through the curved path of travel to this fan, and, in order to insure that the product is delivered to the delivery conveyor 31, suitable gripper mechanism is provided.

Shafts 98 are journalled in and are operably supported by the cylinder 33 of the small fan member 3|, there being a shaft 98 for each product receiving pocket 34 formed ,circumferentially around the fan. Gripper arms 99 are secured to the opposed terminals of the shafts 98 by means of split clamping heads I00 carried by the arms and secured to the shafts 98 by suitable screws or tightening members IOI. The outer or gripping terminal I02 of each gripper 99 is disposed at an angle to the main portion of the gripper and is arranged to operably engage the angular disposed faces I03 of gripper pads I04 secured to the fan cylinder 33, asindicated at I95. These pads are positioned adjacent the base or inner terminals of the product receiving slots 34 in order that the gripping terminals I02 of the grippers 99 may engage the inner terminals of the products P and positively convey them around the fan 3| to its cooperating conveyor 31.

Inasmuch as the grippers 99 operably engage the products I" :at a predetermined point or angular position in the path of travel of the prod ucts around the periphery of the fan, they are actuated by a fixed actuator in the form of a cam I0'I which is secured to a split bracket I08, as indicated at I09, and the bracket I08, in turn, is fastened to the machine frame I8, as depicted at III). This cam is of the closed type, and has formed therein a closed cam groove 2, for the operable reception of roller II4, rotatably supported at the outer terminals of cranks H5, and each crank or arm I I5 is secured to a terminal of each shaft 98, as indicated at H6.

Any preferred means may be employed to drive the folder, and since such devices are well known to those skilled in the art and is not an element of this invention no detailed disclosure will be made herein. The large fan I4 is driven in the usual manner, and the small fan 3| is driven from the large fan by an interposed idler gear III), which meshes with gears H9 and I20 secured to the terminals of the shafts I I and 4| respectively of. the fans I4 and 3|. These gears are preferably proportioned to drive the separate .fans at one to one ratio; so that the small four pocket fan 3| makes a revolution for each revolution of the large eight pocket fan, for reasons to be hereinafter disclosed.

' In order to insure that the small fan 3| may be. positioned to accurately cooperate with the folder or have the proper side lay, the body 33 of the fan may be adjusted longitudinally on theshaft 4| by means of an adjusting screw or member I22, threaded in the body 33 and which is swivelled to a collar or head I23, secured to the shaft 4|. By merely rotating the screw I22 the fan 3| may be adjusted to any desired position relative to the other components of the folding and delivering device.

Suitable guide members are provided to aid in directing the folded sheets or products to the separate fans, and to this end guides I25 extend from the folding rollers II and over the small fan 3|, thereby cooperating with the guides I2 to direct or guide the folded sheets P into the pockets 34 of the small fan. Other guides I26 extend downwardly from the folding roller II to the large fan I4 to aid in directing products P from the folding rollers II thereto, and a tail guide I21 is supported between the large fan I4 and small fan 3| to prevent the sheet tails folding cylinder. 6 by the pins 8, in the usual manner, and it is then tucked between the folding rollers. II by the conventional folding blades 9. The folding rollers II fold the web from the cylinder 6, thus producing the finished folded product, and if the guide member I2 is so operated by its actuating cam 85 that its curved terminal I3 is positioned below the folding rollers, as shown in Figure 1, the product P engages the upper edge of the curved terminal "I3 and the guide member I2 which directs it into a pocket 34 of the smaller fan. 3|. As each product P engages the inner terminal or stop of the pockets the gripper-actuating roller II4 rides down the offset portion II 3 of the cam groove I I2 of the fixed cam I01, thereby causing the gripping terminal I02 of the gripper 99 to grip the forward folded edge of the product and positively convey it around the fan 3|. As the product approaches the stop member or abutment 45, the cam I0'I is shaped to open the gripper 99 and release the product so that when it impinges the stop member 45 it will be deposited on the conveyor 31, and conveyed to the right, as viewed in Figure 1, away from the folder. After a product P has passed between the folding rollers II, the roller 11 which actuates the guide member I2 drops into a cam recess 96 of the driven cam 85, thereby causing the curved guiding terminal I3 of the member I2 to move to the right, as viewed in Figure 1, and clear the path of travel for the product P from the folding rollers II to the large fan I4. The product Pis propelledby the folding rollers and by gravity into a pocket I5 of the large fan I4, and is conveyedaround this fan into engagement with the stop member 46, and finally deposited on the conveyor 20, and conveyed to the right as, viewed in Figure 1, away from the folder. Thus it is seen that the products P are conveyed into the small gripper-equipped delivery fan 3|, and the alternate products P are delivered into the large fan I4, and each product is conveyed from its respective delivery fan in the same direction away from the folder. In the operation just described, a product P is received in each pocket of the small fan 3|, and a product P is received in each alternate pocket of the large fan.

When a double folder is employed, as shown in Figure 5, four separate products may be printed and then folded by a unit of the double folder and delivered separately, two of the products being delivered separately in the same direction away from one unit of the double folder, and two products delivered away from the other folder unit in another direction. If it is desired to deliver only one product through each folder unit, then the small delivery fan in each unit is silenced, with the roller 'I'I resting in a cam recess 96, thus causing all of the products to be delivered into the large delivery fan, and, in this event, a product is received in each pocket thereof and delivered to the conveyor 20.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful in the art is:-

1. In a delivery mechanism for a printing ma chine folder, separate delivery fans rotatable in the same direction, means for directing alternate products from the folder to the same operative side of each fan, and means for conveying the products from the separate fans away from the folder in the same direction.

2. In a delivery mechanism for a printing machine having double folders, two delivery fans for each folder and the fans for each folder being rotatable in the same direction, means for directing alternate products from each folder to the same operative side of the separate fans, and means for conveying the products from the two fans of each folder in the same direction away from the folder.

3. In a delivery mechanism for a printing machine having double folders, two delivery fans for each folder and the fans for each folder being rotatable in the same direction, means for directing alternate products from each folder to the same operative side of the separate fans, means for conveying the products from the two fans of one folderin one direction away from the folder, and for conveying the products from the two fans of the other folder in a different direction away from the folder.

4. A delivery fan for use in printing machine folders, including a body member having a plurality of substantially concentric product receiving pockets, each pocket constructed and arranged to receive a substantial portion of a product and positively actuated grippers operably supported by the delivery fan for gripping the products received in the pockets to convey them around the fan.

5. A delivery fan for use in a printing machine folder, including a body member, a plurality of fan blades carried thereby and defining peripheral product receiving pockets, each pocket being constructed and arranged to receive a substantial portion of a product, gripper pads positioned adjac'ent the inner terminals of these pockets, and

grippers pivotally supported by the body andconstructed and arranged to cooperate with the said pads to grip the products which are received'in the pockets and positively convey them around the fan.

6. In a delivery mechanism for a printing machine folder, a fan capacitated to receive all the products from the folder, guides forming a gravity path of travel leading from the folder to the fan,'a second fan capacitated to receive only a portion of the products of the folder and having pockets, each pocket receiving and supporting a substantial portion of a product, laterally extending rigid stationary guides forming a second path of travel leading from the folder to the second fan, means whereby the gravity path of travel to the first fan is interrupted to divert certain products from the folder into the second path of travel and into the pockets of the second fan when the second fan is operating, positively actuated product taking means operably supported by the second delivery fan to positively convey the products received by this fan around the fan, and means for conveying the products from the fans.

'7. In a delivery mechanism for a printing machine folder having folding rollers, a fan positioned below the folding rollers and capacitated to receive all the products from the folder, guides forming a gravity path of travel leading from the folder to the fan, a second fan capacitated to receive only a portion of the products of the folder and having pockets, each pocket receiving and supporting a substantial portion of a product, rigid stationary guides forming a second path of travel leading laterally from a point below the folding rollers to the second fan, means power driven in timed relation to the printing machine folder whereby the gravity path of travel from the folding rollers to the first fan is intermittently interrupted to thereby divert certain products 8. In a delivery mechanism for a printing machine folder having folding rollers, a fan positioned below the folding rollers and capacitated to receive all the products from the folder, guides forming a gravity path of travel leading from the folder to the fan, a second fan capacitated to receive only a portion of the products of the folder and having pockets, each pocket receiving a substantial portion of a product, rigid stationary guides forming a second path of travel leading laterally from a point below the folding rollers to the second fan, means whereby the gravity path of travel from the folding rollers to the first fan is interrupted to thereby divert certain products laterally into the second path of travel and into the pockets of the second fan when the second fan is operating, grippers operably supported bythe second fan to engage and convey products received therein around this fan, and means for conveying the products away from the fans.

9. In a delivery mechanism for a printing machine folder having folding rollers, a fan positioned below the folding rollers and capacitated to receive all the products from the folder, guides forming a gravity path of travel leading from the folder to the fan, a second fan capacitated to receive only a portion of the products of the folder and having pockets, each pocket receiving and supporting a substantial portion of a product, rigid stationary guide members leading laterally from a point below the folding rollers'to the second fan, a switch member positioned outside of thegravity path of travel when the second fan is inoperative and movable into the said gravity path of travel when the second fan is in operation to thereby divert certain products laterally into the guides and into the pockets of the second fan, grippers operably supported by the second fan to engage and convey products received therein around this fan, and means for conveying the products away from the fans.

10. In a delivery mechanism for a printing machine folder, two delivery fans, guide members forming a gravity path of travel leading from the folder to one fan, rigid stationary guide members forming a laterally disposed path of travel leading from the folder to the second fan, a power driven switching member driven in timed relation to the printing'machine folder and constructed and arranged to interrupt the gravity path of travel of the products from the folder tothe-first fan to initially divert alternate products into the laterally disposed path of travel toward the second fan and to open the gravity path to permit the remaining products to gravitate to the first fan, and means for conveying the products away from both fans.

11. In a delivery mechanism for a printing machine folder, a delivery fan constructed and positionedto operably receive products from the folder along a gravity path, a second delivery fan having pockets for receiving a substantial portion of a product, stationary rigid guides leading from the folder to the second fan, means driven by an operating component of a folder for positively diverting other products of the folder from the gravity path along the guides toward the second fan, and positive product taking means carried by the second fan to convey the products around this fan.

12. In a delivery mechanism for a printing machine folder, a rotary delivery fan constructed and positioned to operably receive products from the folder along a gravity path, a second delivery fan rotatable in the same direction as the first fan and having separate pockets, each pocket receiving and supporting a substantial portion of a product, means driven in predetermined sequence by an operating component of the folder for positively diverting other products of the folder from the gravity path toward the second fan, both fans receiving the products at their same operative sides, and grippers operably supported by the second fan to positively grip and convey the products received by this fan around the fan.

13. In a delivery mechanism for a printing machine folder, a rotary delivery fan positioned and constructed to operably receive products from the folder through a gravity path of travel, rigid stationary guides forming a second path of travel, a conveyor cooperating with the fan to receive products therefrom and convey them in a given direction away from the folder, a second delivery fan rotatable in the same direction as the first fan, driven means for diverting other products 'from the folder into the second path of travel where they are propelled by momentum to the second delivery fan, a second conveyor cooperating with the second delivery fan to receive products therefrom and convey them away from the folder in the same direction as the first conveyor.

14. In a delivery mechanism for a printing machine folder, a delivery fan rotatable in a given direction and constructed and positioned to operably receive products from the folder through a gravity path of travel, laterally-extending guides forming a second path of travel, a conveyor cooperating with the fan to receive products therefrom and convey them from the folder, a second delivery fan rotatable in the same direction as the first delivery fan and having separate pockets, each pocket receiving and supporting a substantial portion of a product, means for diverting other products from the gravity path into the second path of travel to the second delivery fan,

both fans receiving the products at their same operative sides, positively actuated product taking means operably supported by the second delivery fan to engage and positively convey these products around the fan with a substantial portion of each product in a pocket, and a second conveyor cooperating with the second delivery fan to receive products therefrom and convey them away from the folder.

15. In a delivery mechanism for a printing machine folder, a delivery fan rotatable in a given direction and constructed and positioned to operably receive products from the folder through a gravity path of travel, a conveyor cooperating with the fan to receive products therefrom and convey them from the folder, a second delivery fan having pockets and rotatable in the same direction as the first delivery fan, each pocket receiving and supporting a substantial portion of a product, guides extending laterally from the folder to form a second path of travel to the second fan, means for diverting other products of the folder from the gravity path of travel into the second path along the laterally disposed guides and into the pockets of the second delivery fan, both fans receiving their products at their same operative sides, positively actuated grippers operably carried by the second fan to grip and convey these products around the fan to discharge position, and a second conveyor cooperating with the second delivery fan to receive products therefrom and convey them away from the folder.

NICHOLAS DE MANNA. 

